Plantx Opens Pilot Sealed Vertical-Farm Facility in Tokyo with ¥1.2 Billion Government Grant

Plantx opened a pilot facility for fully sealed vertical-farming systems on July 8 in Tokyo's Koto Ward. The facility consists of sealed modules stacked on top of each other, with light, air and water controlled separately in each unit. Japan Times reported that the company claims the system is the world's first of its kind.

Agriculture minister Norikazu Suzuki attended the opening ceremony and said the technology will become essential in the future. The design permits precise regulation of water temperature and humidity, enabling control over nutritional values and sugar content in crops. Plantx President Kosuke Yamada told reporters that demand for automation is higher overseas than in Japan.

The company will use the facility to test automation aimed at cutting personnel costs and technologies that reduce use of electricity, water and fertilizers. Plantx received a government grant of ¥1.2 billion. The food-technology sector, including vertical farming, is one of 17 key strategic areas prioritized by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration.